X-ray tube shield



Oct. 3, 1933. A. c. NELSON X-RAY TUBE SHIELD Filed March 25, 1932 INVENTOR H. C. NEL50/V ATTORNE Patented Oct. 3, 1933 I UNlTEDfSTATl-IS PATENT OFFICE X-RAY TUBE SHIELD Albert 0. Nelson, Flushing, N. Y., assignor to Westinghouse X-Ray Company, Inc., a corporation of Delaware Application March 23, 1932. Serial No. 600,611

8 Claims. (01. 250-34) My invention relates to radiographic apparatus and ray opaque and in which provisions are made and particularly to a device for supporting and for the radiation of heat from the X-ray tube shielding an X-ray tube. to the atmosphere.

I Heretofore in the art such devices have usual- Still further objects of my invention will be- 1; consisted of a lead glass bowl carried by a come apparent to those skilled in the art by referso suitable support,. in which the X-ray tube is ence to the accompanying dr win in which properly supported and aligned with the ob- Figure l' is a perspective view of my shield Ject to be radiographed, while shielding X-rays which is adapted to totally encase an X-ray from striking the operator or patient except at tube; and

'10 a desiredarea. Such devices, however, are very Figure 2 is a sectional view of the shield shown c5 fragile and subject to breakage in operation due in Figure 1. to expansion and contraction thereof caused by Referring HOW to t d aw in detail I have the heat emanating from the internally disposed shown a pair of semi-spherical sections, each of X ray tube. Moreover, these bowls, although which comprise n Oute m mbe 5 a 6 p lfl x-ray opaque due to their lead glass composition, tively, and an inner member '1 and 8 respectively. 70 are not light opaque and under certain circum- These members may be composed of a suitable stances this causes considerable annoyance to ph n ic den at n p u d d a or both operator and patient. 7 any other suitable material.

. x-ray tube shields which totally encase tz In the preferred embodiment of my invention,

' Q tube are also well known to the art and are most however, I construct these members of suitable 1i commonly employed with fluoroscopic tubes. metal, such for example, as aluminum or thin For this particular class of diagnostics the tube steel'and aihx to their inner surfaces a ray opaque is disposed below a table or in the rear of a panel material 9 having a high atomic weight, such for against which the patient rests during an exexample as lead. The outer members 5 and 6 "a amination. Such shields are likewise usually although substantially semi-spherical in conu composed of lead glass coated in a suitable manfiguration are flared outwardly and provided with ner to render the same light opaque. This type a suitable opening. Insulating bushings 10 and of shield is, however, even more fragile than the 12 respectively, pr v d d with longitudinal Slots aforementioned bowls because of the extreme 13 and 14 telescop a y engage t u wa y heat to which they are subjected in totally encasflari g po t of the respective Outer Sections 86 ihg the X-ray tube and the light opaque coating and thus form a cylinder with the exterior perip gradually becomes removed during operation of cry of these bushings surrounding the exterior of the tube necessitating frequent renewal. the outer members 5 and 6 as well as the inner It is an object of my invention to provide a periphery of the flaring portions of the respective 8 shield which supports and shields the X-ray members no tube in such a manner that X-rays are prohibited The inner members '7 and 8 follow substantialfl'om radiating therefrom except in a predeterly the contour of the outer members 5 and 6 and mineddirection. are spaced from the outer members by means of l v Another object of my invention is to provide a suitable lugs 15 and 16 respectively, which also "00 shield for supporting and shielding an X-ray serve as supports. The inner members 7 and 8 tubewhich is light and ray opaque. are likewise provided with suitable openings An ther object of my invention is the provision coaxially aligned with the outwardly flaring porol a shield for X-ray tubes which is not deleteritions of the openings of the outer member for ously afl'ected by the .heat generated by the tube. the purpose of allowing the arms of an X-ray 0 Another object of my invention is to provide tube, such as shown in dotted lines in the figure, a shield for an X-ray tube which is light and ray to pass therethrough and to be secured by the opaque and in which the possibilities of crackrespective insulating bushings 10 and 12. in: of the shield due-to heat generated by the The outer members 5 and 6 of each section as tube are substantially eliminated. well as the inner members 7 and 8 are each pro- I0 Another object of my invention is the provision vided with a plurality of openings, such as shown of a shield for. an X-ray tube which is readily at 17, for the purpose of allowing the radiation detachable-torenderthe tube accessible for reof heat from the interior of the shield and the placement purposes. X-ray tube to the atmosphere.

A further object of my invention is the provi- It is to be noted, however, that the openings "56 sion of a shield for X-ray tubes which is light 17 provided in the respective inner members 7 '110 

